My relationship with Wal-Mart is love-hate. The main reasons I shop there are as follows:

1. It’s right on my way home from work.
2. It’s open 24 hours a day (I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wound up there at midnight to buy groceries).
3. It’s the only place in town. All the department stores are gone..haven’t seen any of them except Target since the early 90’s. I love Target, but their selection of hardware/automotive/tools is non-existant, nor does ours carry food.
4. I come for the food, but I usually get a show as well.

I hate Wal-Mart and all it stands for, but my Yankee cheapness overrides my disdain for the place every time.

I’m on secret option number 4 myself. My best friend’s office has a corporate charge there, so I only go in when I’m with her and she needs to buy crap for work. And every time I go, I’m reminded why I hate going and always shop elsewhere. I also resent Wal-Mart’s demands that result in brand dilution. It doesn’t help consumers and it doesn’t help manufacturers. It only enriches Wal-Mart at everyone’s expense.

I’m not going to vote on this either; there should be a ‘I have no other choice’ option – the last three places I lived in if you wanted something other than food and didn’t prefer the dollar general or driving an hour to an hour and a half, Walmart was/is your only choice. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, sometimes you’re just stuck with the f*ckers.

I’m with kerry on the “Quality sensitive affluent.” I guess part of the reason why I hate Walmart is because, as they seemingly admit, they’re not selling to me. I prefer quality over quantity, and all three of their groups are price obsessed (quantity) instead of quality obsessed.